CLEVELAND — While the Rangers will look at a handful of younger starters over the final two months of the season, they aren’t going to pull the plug on the young starter who has been in the rotation most of the season.

Manager Chris Woodward voiced his support for 23-year-old Ariel Jurado Wednesday morning. Then Jurado matched his career high in innings, allowing only a two-run homer on a misplaced fastball in seven innings against Cleveland in the doubleheader opener. The Rangers lost, however, 2-0 on Jose Ramirez’s seventh inning homer.

“This was a good matchup for him,” Woodward said. “They don’t hit sinkers very well and he could really use that. He attacked the strike zone. That was a pretty good lineup he just went out against, mowed down and had then just about shutting them down for seven innings.”

It was the second time in his last three starts Jurado has pitched seven innings. He allowed Oakland three runs in seven innings on July 25, then struggled against Seattle in the next start.

For the season, Jurado is on the brink of 100 innings in the majors in 24 outings (14 starts) with a 4.74 ERA. He has pushed himself into the discussion as a back-end of the rotation starter. There is value in continuing to watch him. The Rangers need to see how the mounting innings and a more detailed scouting report on him play and what adjustments he can make.